I've had a couple of quiet blog days as I've either been busy in my office creating or single parenting and running around after the James Juniors - there is so much activity with only a few more weeks of this academic year to go. I've finally found time to share: today I've a card I made for this week's challenge over at Less Is More although I'm blogging a little too late to link up. Here's the link though in case it's a theme you'd like more inspiration on:

This week's theme is 'personalise it' - I thought this would be perfect for one of the teacher thank you cards that I will be needing in coming weeks:

Here's the low-down on today's card:

To Personalise Or Not - That is the question! We have some quite strong views on this in the James household, largely influenced by a certain member of our family who seems to live by the motto 'if a name will fit, print it on' so we all have many personalised items, ranging from glasses to boot bags and everything in between. Personalisation is a great way to add a special touch and make something unique for the recipient and if you want to personalise a card, the one thing you will need is an alphabet stamp set. I own a few but my absolute 'go to' alphabet set for this kind of custom greeting is definitely the Labeler Alphabet stamp set. With two fonts, it's both easy to stamp as it's made from photopolymer and also very forgiving if it's not 100% straight. It was therefore right and proper that I used it for Ben's teacher's name, Mr White, on my card.

Thank You Teacher - I used my retired 'Writing Notes' background stamp to create my lined paper base and stamped the star and 'you're the best' sentiment from the Watercolour Words stampset on my card. Such a great set for a simple thank you card. I also added these lovely words from another retired set to the inside of my card:

An Apple For The Teacher - I can't resist adding an apple to any school-related thank you cards; I'm sure no-one brings their teacher an apple these days, but I love the tradition. My apple is from the retired 'Thoughtful Branches' set with a hand-drawn leaf - I just love this set and it will forever sit on my shelf!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

We have had a busy day, nicely rounded off with the year 5 class picnic in the park, along with a healthy dose of rounders and football to finish the week. Our weekend is also jam-packed with activity so I'll be back early tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Labeler Alphabet Photopolymer Stamp Set	Watercolor Words Photopolymer Stamp Set	Pacific Point A4 Cardstock	Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad
Real Red A4 Cardstock	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad	Whisper White A4 Cardstock

Today I'm sharing a card inspired by the photo over at The Paper Craft Crew and the sketch at As You See It:

I finally succumbed and bought the Eastern Palace Suite at the end of May; I had my classes scheduled through May and June and with lots of other pre-order goodies to play with so I didn't buy early. There are so many fabulous samples out there using this set though, I eventually caved and bought the bundle as I have a group of customers wanting to do a class with it in August. This is the first time I've used it to create this fabulously layered card - take a look:

After making this card, I might officially be in love with the Eastern Palace Suite! Here's the low-down on today's card:

So Many Layers - There are no less than 12 layers on my card today! This is thanks to the detail of the Eastern Medallions Thinlits Dies - this set consists of 14 intricate dies that can be nested and stacked to create an almost infinite collection of shapes and designs, with or without the additional detail of the Eastern Beauty stamp set. 

Stamp A Roundabout - I chuckled when I read Heather's post over at As You See It and her reference to roundabouts! The sketch suggested a curved element around the circles and since the Easter Beauty stamp set is one of the few that has a couple of naturally circular sentiments, I had to use one to create a border for my layered centrepiece, interspersing with a swirl. I stamped directly onto my designer series paper background too - again, something I don't often do, however I think it works on today's card so maybe I should give it a go more often! Check out the other interpretations of Heather's sketch over at AYSI, including those of their new design team members, Teresa Klein and the lovely LeAnne Pugliese, my fellow teamie over at The Paper Players - great additions to the team!

Vibrant Eastern Opulence - Lemon Lime Twist , Dapper Denim and Very Vanilla all feature in the Eastern Palace Specialty Designer Series Paper and as such this a colour combination you see often on projects featuring this suite. I decided to add in some Tempting Turquoise as per the inspiration photo and I love the way even a small amount of it this lifts this colour palette even more - here it is for you to save if you'd like to experiment with it:

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Enjoy your day; I have a class this morning followed by Ben's sports day this afternoon. The forecast is another hot one, so don't forget your suncream! I and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Eastern Beauty Photopolymer Bundle	Eastern Palace Specialty Designer Series Paper	Very Vanilla A4 Cardstock	Dapper Denim A4 Cardstock	Dapper Denim Classic Stampin' Pad
Lemon Lime Twist A4 Cardstock	Tempting Turquoise A4 Cardstock	Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad

This is my second card for today (you can see my first one here if you missed it). Today's card uses Cecile's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches:

Before I share my card, I would like to take a moment to give a quick shout to Amy on the FMS team for choosing my card in last week's challenge as her pick for the 'Princess of Clean' (you can see that card here) - thanks Amy, so great to be recognised! This week's sketch was perfect for an idea I had in mind following a crafty conversation with one of my customers recently. Here's my card completely flat: 

This is not how I normally photograph my cards, but is necessary for you to properly see the similarity to the sketch because this is what it looks like when stood up - because it's a trifold card!

Here's the low-down on today's card:

Ways With Nesting Dies - I had a recent conversation with a lovely customer of mine (hello Gill!) who shared with me a trifold card featuring a diamond aperture. I had been thinking about ways to use my range of Stampin' Up!'s shaped layering dies to create a similar effect when Cecile's sketch this week provided me with the perfect opportunity. Whatever your shape of choice, you can either layer them centrally or as I've done here to remian faithful to the sketch by offsetting them slightly, which I personally really like. This card is really simple to create once you've worked out the measurements: for the base, you need a piece of cardstock measuring 14.9cm (5 3/4") by 29.7cm (11 3/4") and scored on the long side at 10.5cm (4") and 21cm (8"), with 3 additional panels (one white) measuring 14.9cm (5 3/4") x 10.2cm (3 7/8"). Here are some other shots to show you what the card looks like when opened:

And this one completely opened:

Apertures are created in the outer flaps and the piece that lines the middle section, and the white lining piece, so that each layer of colour can be seen. 

A Purple Trio - I decided to go with purples as opposed to pinks for today's card - I think I've overdosed on Flirty Flamingo of late! - and kept my card pattern-free in order that the diecuts would have maximum impact. Here's my ombre colour palette should you wish to use it on your future projects:

Love And Sunshine Wishes - I finished my card with another diecut, the love from the Sunshine Wishes thinlits set, in white. I cut it from extra thick Whisper White three times, having first added some multipurpose adhesive sheets to the back of the top two pieces of cardstock, for mess-free adhesion - love these! I wanted it to be a little more sturdy as it was only attached to the cardbase on one side. There almost wasn't any stamping - I did add a 'you' on my white panel from Sunshine Sayings, but if you don't have this set or something similar I think it would work fine without. 

I actually really like this card and can see me making a few more using different shapes for other occasions, so thank you Cecile and Gill for the inspiration!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Enjoy your day. It's hot, hot, hot here in the UK so I am enjoying the nice weather from the confines of my office as I prepare for the first of this month's technique classes tomorrow. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Sweet & Sassy Framelits Dies	Sunshine Wishes Thinlits Dies	Sweet Sugarplum A4 Cardstock	Rich Razzleberry A4 Cardstock	Fresh Fig A4 Cardstock
Fresh Fig Classic Stampin' Pad	Sunshine Sayings Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock	Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets

Today I'm sharing a couple of cards with you  - the first one for this week's challenge over at the Color Throwdown that also fits this week's masculine theme at TGIF Challenges (and I've used last week's TGIF challenge sketch again too!):

Lots of the Color Throwdown Design Team cards were inspired by the whale and nautical theme of the inspiration photo, however I decided that the bookshelf itself would be my starting point - take a look:

Here's the low-down on this card:

Bookcase Builder - I used the Bookcase Builder stamp set to stamp a shelf full of objects in the challenge colours and finished with my sentiment stamped in Night of Navy on Lemon Lime Twist for some zing!  A little navy baker's twine and an enamel heart complete my card. 

This card is perfect for my husband in this colourway, although I'm sure when he reads the sentiment he'll be telling me it's one for me, given the quantity of stamps I own!!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Bookcase Builder Photopolymer Stamp Set	Pool Party A4 Cardstock	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad	Night Of Navy A4 Cardstock	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad
Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad	Regals Enamel Shapes	Whisper White A4 Cardstock

I had a little time to catch up with my crafting today whilst it was still cool in my craft room so I'm sharing another card with you that fits with the following challenges:

I don't usually combine so many challenges, but having decided on my design using the Stamps Ink Paper sketch that used the scene from the Mediterranean Moments stamp set to include my Vespa scooter 'wheels' for the Global Design Project, I changed my colour scheme at the last minute to one inspired by the photo over at Inspired By All The Little Things and did a little watercolouring - take a look:

Doesn't that vibrant Pacific Point blue really stand out against the pink? A warm, Mediterannean scene with a fun aqua scooter out front - the makings of a fun vacation, perhaps? I added my sentiment from the 'Layering Love' stamp set to finish my card.

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Do check out the various challenge galleries for lots of inspiration - especially the wheely great inspiration over at GDP this week!

I'll be back tomorrow with another couple of projects. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Mediterranean Moments Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Layering Love Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock	Flirty Flamingo A4 Cardstock	Pacific Point A4 Cardstock
Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad	Aqua Painters	Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad
Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad	Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad

It's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the lovely Jaydee to host this week and she has a clean and simple challenge for us to work with:

This was a great week for a CAS challenge - I was short on time and the glorious weather we've been having here in the UK these last few days has meant that my south-facing craft room has been like a sauna and not conducive to extended periods of crafting. I needed something that was quick to create so I reached for my Best Birds stamp set and co-ordinating Birds and Blooms Framelits along with this week's sketch over at CAS Colours and Sketches and this is what I came up with:

Here's the low-down on today's card:

Take One Stamp Set - My fellow Paper Player, the lovely LeAnne, has made so many fabulous cards with the Best Birds stamp set (you can see them via the link to her blog below), she finally convinced me that I had to add this set to my collection. This is the first time I've used this set and I'm not disappointed. A pair of birds, a branch, flowers, a great variety of sentiments and an interesting background stamp mean this set gives lots of options for layering and creating scenes, and all with a single stamp set. Thank you LeAnne for being such an enabler! I coloured my little bird to look like a blue tit with my inks and aquapainter - I love these birds!

Add Some Dimension - I stamped the hatched background stamp directly onto my card base then cut out the branch and my bird with the co-ordinating Birds and Blooms Thinlits Dies, adhering the branch directly to the base and popping my bird up on dimensionals for a little lift without too many layers so that it still feels CAS.

Texture Without Depth - I added a strip of the photographic Wood Textures Designer Series Paper to the edge of my card which give the illusion of texture and a trio of glitter enamel dots for a little sparkle and interest without compromising the overall clean and simple feel of my card.

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my Product and 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Before you reach for your ink and papers, check out what our amazing team has created to inspire you this week:

I look forward to seeing your clean and simple creations in the gallery this week. It's Father's Day here in the UK so we shall be spoiling Mr James today and hopefully continuing to enjoy the glorious sunshine we have been experiencing recently. I'll be back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

Best Birds Photopolymer Stamp Set	Birds & Blooms Thinlits Dies	Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack	Glitter Enamel Dots	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock
Aqua Painters	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad	Dapper Denim Classic Stampin' Pad	Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad	So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad
Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad	Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad	White Stampin' Chalk Marker

Yay it's Friday! Another busy day for me and I'm starting it by sharing today's card for this week's Less Is More challenge with you:

One layer week and a theme of 'sweet things'. I've pondered this theme all week and whilst I was originally thinking ice-creams, on Wednesday afternoon as I iced Rebecca's birthday cakes I suddenly had a brainwave - take a look:

How cute is this little chap?! Here's the low-down on today's card:

A Birthday Chef - This little chef with his piping bag is just one of the fun images in the Birthday Delivery stamp set. I stamped him in Memento Black and dry-coloured him in with my watercolour pencils, stamping him on Crumb Cake so that his chef whites would really stand out. You can see a close-up of him above.

Ice, Ice Baby - The Happy Birthday' sentiment I used on my card looks just like icing so was the perfect choice to accompany my piping chef. I stamped my sentiment in Versamark and heat embossed it with white embossing powder in order to give a little more depth, dimension and shine to my one layer card. 

Oodles of Doodles - I created a border around the front of my card with one of the stamps in the retired 'Tin Of Cards' stamp set. You could just as easily use a fineliner and doodle your own.

What's sweeter than icing sugar? Such a fun card. Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

What a fun one layer challenge - I hope the ladies at LIM like today's card. Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Birthday Delivery Photopolymer Stamp Set	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	Watercolor Pencils	Crumb Cake A4 Cardstock	Versamark Pad
Embossing Buddy	White Stampin' Emboss Powder

Today is a special day in the James household: the eldest of my juniors turns 12. I'm not sure where those years went by, although I do know that what was once my chubby little baby girl is now rapidly turning into a wonderful young woman with thoughts, hopes and dreams. So today I thoughts I would share the birthday card I made for Rebecca - take a look:

When I came to make Rebecca's card, I knew there were a number of things I needed to include: pink, sparkle and a big birthday wish and today's card is the result! Here's the low-down on my card:

Berry Burst: A Grown Up Pink - Whilst Rebecca isn't a girly-girl, she is most definitely a lover of pink! One of the new in-colours, Berry Burst, was my choice of pinks for her card; I think this pink is a rather grown-up pink and perfectly suited to a card for a discerning young lady. It also has some lovely co-ordinating accessories such as the 1/2" Finely Woven Ribbon, which ties beautiful bows.

Move Over Glimmer, There's A Foil Frenzy Going On! - So I had to include a small piece of silver glimmer paper on my card - Rebecca just loves the stuff! - but the real shimmer and shine comes from the new Berry Burst spotty Foil Frenzy kraft cardstock. With bright, colourful designs, this heavyweight foiled kraft cardstock will be perfect for boxes and I can't wait to start constructing, but for today it made a great base for the front of my card. 

Stacked Diecuts Made Easy - For my sentiment I used the new Happy Birthday Thinlit to create my focal point, cutting and stacking three diecut pieces and brushing with clear Wink of Stella for a subtle sparkle before heat embossing with clear embossing powder a further three times. Effort? Yes. Worth it? Totally!  There is a new adhesive that you may not have noticed in the new catalogue that makes light work of stacking and adhering die cuts - the new Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets (page 203 - you are welcome!) are such a timesaver. Simply stick your cardstock to an adhesive sheet before rolling your thinlit through the Big Shot, then you can peel away the backing and your diecut is ready to stick - no mess, no fuss. 

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

I'm pleased to report that Rebecca's card received the official 'thumbs up', which is really all you can ask for when you're making a card with a special someone in mind.

I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Happy Birthday Thinlits Die	Happy Birthday Gorgeous Photopolymer Bundle	Foil Frenzy Specialty Designer Series Paper	Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets	Berry Burst 1/2" Finely Woven Ribbon
Berry Burst A4 Cardstock	Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush	Versamark Pad	Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder
Silver Glimmer Paper	Layering Circle Framelits Dies

Wednesday already - where is the week going?! I'm late posting my card today as whilst I had it made, I am behind with photographing and have had a busy day today getting ready for a special birthday in the James household - more on that tomorrow! Today I'm sharing a card that I made for the sketch challenge over at TGIF Challenges - take a look:

This is one of those layouts that can be used in so many ways - I decided that it was the perfect sketch for me to send a message - take a look:

Here's the low-down on today's card:

Sorry For... Everything - Today's sketch is perfect for a split sentiment, especially one that has an extra-large element such as the 'sorry' here. So here's the thing: I might be a cardmaker, but I am one of the world's worst at getting cards sent on time. It's not for a shortage of cards - I always have lots! - rather, it's because I never have the 'right' card and like to make something specifically with the recipient in mind. Trouble is, my cards then often arrive late or the special card never gets made and a belated card is in order. So this stamp set was made for me! I love the large 'sorry' greeting and then a whole range of additional sentiments that work on a wide range of cards when an apology or sympathy is required. I stamped my 'Sorry' in Cherry Cobbler, then inked up the second part of the greeting with my Cherry Cobbler and Pacific Point Stampin' Write markers and stamped it onto my Blushing Bride Banner. I also added the 'forgive me?' sentiment to the inside, that you can see above at the start of my post.

Birthday Memories - I chose the bold red and white birthday patterned paper from the Birthday Memories designer series paper pack for the background to my card. This paper is bright and has a busy pattern so is the perfect background for my white sentiment panel. 

Make Framelits Your Friend - I added a little birthday present instead of a bow to finish my card - take a close look at my and you'll see it's not stamped though. Fussy cut? No - I used my Birthday Friends Framelits to crop this adorable gift from a sheet of Birthday Memories designer series paper. I love how a number of the framelits cut out not only the images from the 'Birthday Delivery' stamp set but the painted image from the designer series paper. This is the ultimate in co-ordinating suites!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

That's all from me - I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Sorry For Everything Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Birthday Memories Designer Series Paper	Birthday Friends Framelits Dies	Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad	Many Marvelous Markers
Blushing Bride A4 Cardstock	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock

I've a quick post today to share a card I made for a friend of mine using another of the Pick A Pattern papers - take a look:

Here's the low-down on today's card:

The Glamper Greetings cute caravan set was an annual catalogue carryover from the Autumn-Winter seasonal catalogue. I'm glad it made the cut as I hadn't inked mine up yet - and it pairs beautifully with the new Pick A Pattern designers series paper. I added a little sunshine and grass to my caravan scene, but this just scratches the surface of what can be done with this set - there are so many sweet little images: bunting, pies, flamingoes, bats and balloons with which to decorate your little caravan and a host of sentiments to boot - glamper greetings indeed!

As I went to write my post today I had an 'oops' moment; I had originally made this card with the sketch over at As You See It in mind - then realised I had stuck everything down minus the banner! Too late to rectify and since it's integral to the sketch I'm not going to link up but I'm sharing with you anyway - here's the link to the AYSI sketch so that you can see what I mean. On the upside, it means you get to see more of the patterned paper - yay!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Glamper Greetings Photopolymer Stamp Set	Pick A Pattern Designer Series Paper	Emerald Envy A4 Cardstock	Flirty Flamingo A4 Cardstock	Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad
Whisper White A4 Cardstock	Basic Black A4 Cardstock	Embossing Buddy	Versamark Pad	White Stampin' Emboss Powder